Queen-Hot Space

Ah, Hot Space, Queen's much maligned 1982 effort. An album that saw the band boldly experimenting with funk after the huge success of "Another One Bites The Dust" a few years prior. At the time Queen were still mostly thought of as a rock band who liked to experiment with style, but still keeping rock and roll  (or glam rock anyway) as its heart. The rest of the band's releases would see much more experimentation and artistic shifts to the point that now, in 2013, Queen is remembered as a pop rock/art rock band bordering on progressive.

But that's now-not 1982. In '82, this record confused many and angered most. So the question is, when listened to in the light of the band's full career, does it hold up better? Can it be viewed as an important step in the band's evolution or is it just the product of a really bad idea and/or shot at a money grab?

Unfortunately, it still mostly sucks.

"But, but, it has "Under Pressure" on it...with David freakin' Bowie!!!"

Yes it does, and that is a classic song, no doubt. However, it was released as a single the previous year and is slapped on the end of the record as an afterthought, so it's doubtful that it was intended for release on this project. Also Vanilla Ice stole and wrecked it so that's a wash.

Look, almost all of side one is a disaster. "Dancer" has some decent guitar work but that's about it. When the best song of the five is the Roger Taylor song, you know you're in trouble. No, no, I love Roger, I'm just sayin'.

Side two fares a little better, beginning with "Put Out The Fire", a much needed rocker courtesy of Brian May. The rest of the songs do sound more like the Queen we know and love, but there's nothing else that stands out. Every song sounds like what it is...filler. There are a few bright spots, but by the time this disasterpiece is all over even "Under Pressure" feels like too little too late.

Hot Space? More like Hot Mess. I have been a Queen fan for over 30 years, but even I can't get on board with this one.

1 1/2 out of 5 Daves.